Free Stuff Los Angeles

8 Fun & Free Things To Do in Downtown L.A.

Start your day off early at the largest flower district in the United States. Open at the crack of dawn, the market sells pretty much every type of flower known to man, importing them from all over the world. Feast your eyes on blossoms of every color of the rainbow—from amaryllis to zinnia. And yes, stop and smell the roses. Open to the public 8 a.m.-noon Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 6 a.m.-noon Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday. Admission is only $2 ($1 on Saturday).  754 Wall St., between 7th and 8th streets, 213-622-1966, Don’t have the resources to visit the graceful, curvy, metal-clad Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain? Well then, check out the similarly constructed Walt Disney Concert Hall, also designed by world-class architect Frank Gehry. You don’t even need to hear the symphony to enjoy the building. They offer free docent-led tours or you can follow a self-guided audio tour in exchange for your ID. Don’t miss the garden out back for its stunning, rose-shaped fountain made of shattered Delftware. Free to the public. Open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 135 N. Grand Ave., 213-972-4399,  We all visit the great cathedrals when traipsing around Europe, so why not check out LA’s version? Just up the street from the Disney Concert Hall is the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, designed by renowned Spanish architect José Rafael Moneo. Completed in 2002, the exterior of this contemporary church is said to be reminiscent of sun-baked adobe. According to Moneo, as the cathedrals of Europe are built along rivers, his church would be built along the “river of transportation,” also known as the Hollywood Freeway. Free to the public. 555 W. Temple St. 213-680-5200,  The “world’s shortest railway” (technically a funicular) offers phenomenal views of downtown Los Angeles. Dating back to 1901, it recently reopened after being closed for nearly a decade. For a real sense of nostalgia, you can ride in the original restored cars up the 298-foot-long track to Bunker Hill for only a quarter. Open 6:45 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.  Connects 351 S. Hill St. with 350 S. Grand Ave.; board at either location.  Only a block away from LA’s iconic railway hub, Union Station, Olvera Street is the oldest part of Los Angeles. Immerse yourself in authentic Mexican culture by strolling down the two narrow blocks, shaded by trees and red tile roofs.